After serving two tours of duty in Iraq with the U.S. Army, Ronald settled down in Texas with his wife, three children, and a new career as an IT college instructor.
When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, however, his school shut down and he was laid off. No longer able to pay his bills, Ronald lost his house, his car, and ultimately fell into homelessness. His marriage ended and he lost custody of the children.
Looking for a fresh start, Ronald moved to California, where he met and became engaged to Jessica. Together, they lived in an RV in Gardena. While accompanying Jessica to a doctor appointment, he had a chance encounter that led to his being connected to the Veteran Peer Access Network (VPAN).
Thanks to a “battle buddy” who helped him navigate the often complicated system of government resources for veterans, Ronald and Jessica were able to move into permanent housing within seven months.
Ronald is now majoring in physics at Los Angeles Southwest College. He also wants to go to school at USC and someday work for NASA or SpaceX.